Ridicule and humiliation

Ridicule serves a powerful function in modulating behaviour. As is well established, in any social environment ridicule, humiliation and shame can all be deployed to constrain and control behaviour. Such is the force of the internalised emotional reaction in the recipient that it can ward off similar behaviour in the future with just its threat.

This applies whether it’s the school, family, or government.

This is powerful for any system as it means it doesn’t need to resort to violence, which is costly both materially and psychologically. That’s all well and good for the system, but equally it can be weaponised to constrain behaviour in an enormously narrow sense.

When we think about oppression we tend to view it as means deployed by traditionally evil or autocratic authorities, but what of our own societies? Where are oppressive, ostensibly non-violent means of coercion being deployed? And where are they being deployed without your awareness?

The strength in personal rebellion comes from not allowing external voices to be the arbiter of shame or embarrassment. Instead, perhaps to build up sufficient internal resilience and self-confidence that enables you to follow norms when you choose to and to dismiss them when your internal voice makes the call.

Withstanding ridicule and humiliation when your message is true, deeply authentic, is one of the most powerful choices that can be made.

The choice truly is yours.